An upset? Perhaps.
But Peninsula’s 2-1 win against second-ranked Walla Walla on Saturday marked just another step toward Pirates’ efforts for a third consecutive Final Four berth in the conference playoffs.
Peninsula, now holding a two-point lead over Bellevue atop the NWAACC West standings, took that big step against an undefeated Warrior squad seeking its fourth conference win.
Instead, Bobby Cantania and Jabril Gude each had scores and Peninsula keeper Jase Hall got key saves when he needed to, preserving the big P.C. victory.
"Our guys just worked hard across the board and didn’t give up," Peninsula coach Andrew Chapman said.
Cantania opened the scoring at the 35-minute mark, taking a pass from Steve Prevost and putting it past the Warriors’ keeper for a 1-0 Peninsula lead.
Walla Walla knotted the game at 1-1 just two minutes into the second half as sophomore Juan Garcia slipped past the Peninsula defense and scored past Hall.
The teams battled evenly until, with 15 minutes left, Pirate Jason Simonis found Gude for his first score of the season.
Walla Walla pulled their keeper at game’s end, trying to get an equalizer. Earlier this season, Peninsula gave up a goal in penalty time to Columbia Basin and had to settle for a 1-1 tie, but this time around the P.C. defense held tough, shutting down the Warriors.
"We learned from our lesson then," Chapman said. "Our guys just didn’t want to give up (and) they took care of the ball."
Peninsula doesn’t get much of a rest as the squad plays at home on Wednesday, Oct. 8, in a West division showdown with Highline. The Pirates host a tough Wenatchee Valley team on Oct. 11.
"They (the Pirates) have seen it now, that they can play with the best," Chapman said.
Pirates get
by Rangers
Peninsula got a scare from winless Olympic in Bremerton on Sept. 30, but thanks to a late goal from Jason Simonis, the Pirates emerged with a 2-1 victory.
After a scoreless halftime, Olympic got a score five minutes into the second half. Pirate Steve Provost got the equalizer five minutes after that off an assist from Aaron Oppeltz.
It looked as if Peninsula might pick up its third draw of the season until, with less than two minutes remaining, John Troka found Simonis for his first goal of the season.
